Inadequate provision of service and conditions at the Cairns Hospital Mental Health Unit

Eligibility - Queensland citizens
Principal Petitioner:
Jennelle Jefferey
C/- PO Box 5241
Cairns QLD 4870
Total Signatures - 41
Sponsoring Member: Rob Pyne MP
Posting Date: 17/9/2015
Closing Date: 17/10/2015
Tabled Date: 27/10/2015
Responded By: Hon Cameron Dick MP on 2/12/2015
TO: The Honourable the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland

Queensland citizens draws to the attention of the House the inadequate provision of service and conditions of the Cairns Hospital Mental Health Unit.

  • Mixed sexes is a concern raised by many inpatients and visitors
  • Poor quality of food
  • Uncleanliness- argued by many
  • Lack of beds
  • Occasional heavy-handedness of some patients
  • Patient and staff safety
  • Toxicity suffered by patients due to inadequate drug monitoring
  • Nurse to patient ratio
  • Lack of trained nurses in Mental Health - some are simply on rotation and it shows
  • Lack of skills and clinical training in Mental Health - some are simply on rotation and it shows
  • Lack of skills and clinical training in Mental Health (for example, failure to recognise drug toxicity)
  • Aesthetically depressing
  • ECT permission issues relating to ill patients. Lack of properly informed consent.
  • Post-natal unit should be independent
  • Suicide prevention placed in high dependency with some aggressive patients
  • Shocking isolation cases
  • Overuse of aggressive behaviours of some Security staff
  • Also, lack of Security

Your petitioners, therefore, request the House to undertake a bipartisan review into but not limited to said conditions.